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5 “Prout’s cooperative model… sharing the resources of the planet for the welfare of everyone, deserves our serious consideration.” – Dr. Noam Chomsky, MIT " Sarkar's theory is far superior to Adam Smith's or that of Marx… It is spiritually rather than materialistically inspired.“ – Johan Galtung, Founder UN Institute of Peace Studies “An important contribution to re-thinking the disastrous course of the current economic globalization.” – Hazel Henderson, economist

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6 Prout is not a rigid mold to be imposed on any society. It is a holistic set of dynamic principles that can be applied appropriately by the citizens and leaders to help their region or country prosper and achieve self-reliance in an ecological way.

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7 Complete Model 1. The Economics of Prout 2. The Social Message of Prout 3. The Ecological and Spiritual Message of Prout 4. Some Prout Projects in Venezuela 5. Prout's Message for Venezuela and for you

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8 Economic Inequality: Does it matter?

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10 THE END OF GLOBAL CAPITALISM? It is based on profit, selfishness and greed. The tragic result is that half of world population lives, suffers and dies in poverty.

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11 A Logical Solution The world’s physical resources are limited. If individuals accumulate too much, there will not be enough for everyone. Every country should decide maximum salaries, wealth and land ownership. Maximum utilization and rational distribution of all the resources of the planet for the welfare of everyone.

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12 The first priority of Prout is to guarantee the five minimum necessities of life to all: food clothing housing education medical care THE RIGHT TO LIVE!

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16 Cooperatives give local people control over their economic destiny called “economic democracy” workers own their enterprises Industry, trade, agriculture, banking run by producer and consumer cooperatives largest part of a Prout economy

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17 Cooperatives need: Honest leadership Good business plan Strict accounting Community support Government should provide: More training Accounting Regular inspections Cooperatives

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18 Strategic Key Industries too large or complex for co-ops managed as public utilities by immediate government belong to society and should never be privatized

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20 Economic Democracy and Self-Reliance A dynamic economy of the people, by the people, and for the people. Each region, state, and community self-reliant in food. Sustainable farming and agricultural cooperatives Full employment for local people No exploitation by outsiders or corporations.

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21 Lack of Ethics American Psychiatric Association reports the most common factor among criminals is the tendency to lie. Lying is also done by some politicians, lawyers, corporation directors, accountants, advertisers… Throughout history, ruling classes have created moral rules and laws to maintain power.

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23 Ideal Leadership The world needs leaders with moral force, spiritual vision and courage to fight injustice and exploitation. Anyone can become an ideal leader by setting a personal example of honesty, self- discipline, sacrificing spirit and dedication to the welfare of humanity.

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24 Ideal Leaders in Venezuela P. R. Sarkar, founder of Prout, visited Venezuela in He said: “Venezuela needs good spiritual political leaders. If Venezuela can produce spiritual political leaders, it will be not only the leader of Latin America, but also the leader of the planet.”

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28 Spiritual perspective of Prout Human beings have a thirst for peace and happiness. External objects cannot satisfy this, because their pleasure is only temporary. Journey within to find true peace and happiness. We seek connectedness, meaning and purpose. Self-realization and service to humanity.

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29 Meditation In the struggle for world peace and justice, we should not neglect our own internal peace. Meditation is an ancient practice with many benefits: overcoming insomnia, depression and mental complexes; increasing memory, concentration, willpower, self- control, self-esteem and tolerance; developing mental peace, wisdom, compassion and unconditional love. Prout's ecological and spiritual message

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31 Publishing Education Research Transform lives Empower communities Welfare of all Raise consciousness Strengthen cooperatives Promote economic democracy How we do itWhy we do itWhat we do Prout Research Institute of Venezuela Independent, not-for profit foundation started Sept Full-time staff. Prout Projects in Venezuela

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32 MISSION To empower all people to improve their quality of life and live in a more just society by fostering the development of worker cooperatives, self-reliant communities, environmental protection, universal ethics and spiritual values. Prout Projects in Venezuela

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42 Neohumanist Education Neo-humanism: "The practice of love for all creation including plants, animals, and the inanimate world" Holistic development of the child Daily quiet meditation Ecological and social consciousness Academic, practical, social and personal Skills Joyful learning through stories and arts Teacher is ideal example Prout Projects in Venezuela

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45 Prout’s Message for Venezuela Become self-reliant in food and medicine as soon as possible through sustainable agriculture, agro- and agrico-industries. Strengthen and encourage the cooperative system with more training, accounting and inspections to increase employment. Petroleum sales are only a temporary source of income which should be used for education, job training and programs to alleviate poverty. Strive to balance the economy. Fight corruption relentlessly.

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46 What can you do? Learn more about Prout: read, take courses, attend seminar. Understand the link between the social and the personal: be the change you want to see. Share the vision with others: the more people who share the goal, the more power we have to achieve it. Volunteer: help create the world you want. Be ecologist: reduce, reuse, recycle, grow food Learn and practice meditation: find peace Conclusión